Getting fit to be a bride

Q: I’m in the midst of planning my wedding, which is six months away, and I really would like to lose some weight before the big day. I currently walk two days a week, but would like to work really hard until the wedding to feel and look better in my wedding dress. Is six months enough time for me to lose weight?

A: Planning a wedding can not only be the best time of your life, but also the busiest and the most stressful. Wedding details can overshadow other priorities such as exercise and eating healthy. Whether it is to look your best in your dress or deal with the pressures of premarital preparations, exercise is an excellent way to help you stay sane and look good.

“Just as you are making plans for your wedding, you also have to plan to exercise and make healthy eating choices. Schedule time for yourself several days a week to complete workouts.

“Six months is ample time to make significant progress toward your fitness goals. Take advantage of the time you have from now until the wedding, and pace yourself.

It is important to remember that although you desire to look and feel your best at your wedding, you want to take a safe approach to get there. Get-fit-quick gimmicks might seem like a great idea, especially if they involve just taking a pill and not exercising; however, steer away from what might appear as a fast way to fitness and believe that your hard work will pay off.

“Begin to incorporate additional cardiovascular training into your current twice-weekly walking routine.

“Each day, try to push yourself to walk the same distance quicker or increase the distance you travel. If possible, begin to strength train at least three times a week. This will not only help increase lean muscle mass, but also help decrease unwanted body fat.

“Devoting 60 minutes four days a week to a total-body fitness routine could produce positive results over six months.

“Look for a bridal boot-camp class in your area or seek the advice of a fitness professional who can develop a training program specifically to meet your needs.

Bridal boot-camp classes are becoming more and more popular due to the demand from brides-to-be and their wedding parties. DVDs of total-body workouts can also be helpful.

“Your wedding is a great time to start making exercise and proper nutrition a lifestyle choice. By establishing these positive exercise and healthy eating habits as you are planning your married life, you can truly live happily ever after.